Bottle carrier



Dec. 18, 1956 R. M. DUNNING 2,774,512

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Sept. 22, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Robert M Dunm'n 9 BY -8mg; I

ORNEY R. M. DUNNING BOTTLE CARRIER Dec. 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1951 A; LORNEY INVENTOR Robert M. Dunning mam Dec. 18, 1956 R. M. DUNNING 2,774,512

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Sept. 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .EI mu! R WRPMKIAIV I m w 0 m 3 I V Z Q 2 41 m r Faber! M Dunn/n9 BY m.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,774,512 BOTTLE CARRIER Robert M. Dunning, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application September 22, 1951, Serial No. 247,875

2 Claims. (CL 220-413) This invention relates to an improvement in bottle carriers wherein it is desired to provide an efiicient carrierfor bottles and the like which uses a minimum of prevent actual contact between the bottles. A somewhat similartype of carrier has been produced which includes a bottom panel connecting two side wall panel portions. However, it has been found that this type of carrier requires a considerable amount of paperboard, and it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a carrier which is economical to manufacture.

A feature-of the present invention resides inthe' provision of a carrier which includes a bottom panel which is hingedly connected to one side wall panel and which is adhered to the opposite side wall panel. A glue flap is provided for connecting this bottom panel to the second side wall panel. This glue flap must be of suffi'cient size to provide a; tight anchorage between the bottom panel and the second side wall. If a glue flap of the proper depth were provided, it would be necessary to increase the size of the blank to the extent where it would not trim properly on certain paperboard mills. The present invention involves the provision of a glue flap which dovetailsinto the partition structure of the carton so as to provide substantially full depth partitions without decreasing the area of the glue flap. In other words, the glue flap is irregularly shaped so that the proper anchorage is provided without sacrificing the relatively small size of the paperboard blank.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a bottle carrier which is equipped with a center partition structure formed of two overlapping partition walls of double thickness. These double thickness walls are foldably connected along their upper edges so as to provide an extremely strong center structure. Hand holes are cut into the center partition structure to extend through the overlapping portions thereof thus forming a carrier supporting structure of four thicknesses of paperboard which are foldably connected along the upper edges of two adjoining sections. v

These and other objects and novel features'of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bottle carrier in readiness for use.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the blank of which the carrier is formed. It should be noted that two of these blanks may dove-tail together in opposed relationship.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the first folding operation. p

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank at the completion of the first folding operation when two sections of the container are folded along parallel fold lines.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the carrier after the second foldingoperation is partially completed.

Figure 6 is a view of the carrier incompletely folded condition.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section through the carrier, the position of the section being indicated by'the line 7-7ofFigi1re 8. I

blank after the Figure 8 is a sectional view through the carrier, the position of the section being indicated by the line 88 of Figure 7. 1

Figure 9 is a vertical section on a plane at right angles to the plane of section 8, the position of the section being indicated by the line 99 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional view vertically through the carrier, the position of the section being indicated by the line 10-10 of Figure 7. 7 With reference now to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted thatthe carrier A includes a side Wall panel 10 which is foldably connected along a horizontal fold line 11 to a bottom panel 12. This bottom panel 12 extends substantially 'half the width of the carton and is connected along a central fold line 13'to a second bottom panel 14. The panel 14 is connected along a fold line 15 to a glue flap 16 which is of irregular design and which will be more completely described later in the specification.- -A second side wall panel 17 is arranged in opposite relation to the first side wall 10. In the particular form of construction illustrated a portion 19 of the blank is cut away to form an opening through the blank. This structure is optional and the side walls 10 and 17 may extend in edge abutting relation if it is so desired.

The side walls 10 and 17 are connected along aligned fold lines 20 and 21 to-end wall panels 22 and 23, respectively. These end wall panels 22 and 23 are separated by a out line 24. The panels 22, 23 are foldably connected along aligned fold lines 25 and 26 to anchoring flaps 27 and 29, respectively. The end flaps 22 and 23 are of a widthsubstantially equal to half the width of the with the out line 34.

The end panels 33 and 34 are connected along aligned fold lines 36 and 37 to partition forming panels 39 and 40, respectively. These center partition panels 39 and 40 are irregular in outline and accordingly will be described somewhat in detail. The adjoining edges of the panels 39 and 4e are connected by a fold line 41 which is aligned with the cut lines 24 and 35 and with the fold line 30. The center partition panels 39 and 40 include transversely extending handle portions 41 and 42 which extend somewhat more than two-thirds of the width of the side wall panels and 17 in order that these handle portions may overlap with the handle portions of other partition forming panels which will be later described. A vertical fold line 43 extends upwardly from the lower edge of the center partition forming panel 39, this fold line 43- being spaced from the fold line 36 a distance of substantially one-third of the width of the side wall panels 10 and 17. A lower edge of the handle forming portion 41 defined by a transverse out line 44, which is curved downwardly at one end 45 Where it communicates with the fold line 43. A rounded out line 46 connects the transverse cut line 44 with the extremity 47 of the handle forming portion 41. This rounded out line 46 is provided with an upwardly extending notch 49 which is provided for a purpose which will be later described in detail.

, A fold line 50 defines a portion of one edge of the center partition forming panel 40, this fold line 50 being spaced from the fold line 37 a distance equal to sub stantially one-third of the width of the side Wall panels 10 and 17. A center partition forming panel 40 is provided with a projecting tab 51 which is defined by a transverse out line 52 and an angularly extending out line 53. The lower edge of the handle portion 42 is defined by a transverse out line 54 which extends to the extremity 55 of the handle forming portion 52.

Hand holes 56 and 57 are provided in the handle forming portions 41 and 42 of the central partition forming panels 39 and 40, these hand holes beingequally spaced from the fold line 41 so as to register when the blank is folded along the fold line 41. The handhole 56 is provided with an integral flap 59 foldably connected to portion 80 which is separated from the partition panel 69 and the anchoring panel 64 by a transverse cut line 81.

The unit 74 is also provided with a projecting tab 82 which is defined by a transverse cut line 83 and an inclined connecting out line 84. The unit 74 also includes a handle forming portion 85 which is separated from the partition panel 70 and the anchoring panel 65 by a series of cut lines. The transverse cut line 86 is provided at one end with a downwardly rounded cut 87 for a purpose which will be later described. The handle forming portion 85 also includes a rounded extremity 89 which is inwardly notched at 90 fora purpose which will be later described. Hand holes 91 and 92 are provided in the units 72 and 74 respectively, and the hand hole 92 is provided with a foldable flap 93 along its upper edge. The two hand holes 91 and 92 are properly positioned to register when the blank is folded along the fold line 75.

In order that a minimum of stock may be used in the formation of the carriers, it is desirable that the glue flap 16 dove-tail into the portion of the blank including the partition forming panel 39, the partition panel 60 and the anchoring panel 64.- However, if the glue flap were rectangular in form it would shorten the height of the partition panels 60 and 39 and permit the bottles carried to contact near the bottom of the carrier. In order to avoid such contact the flap 16 is provided with relatively short end portions 94 and 95 which are of a length slightly less than one-sixth of the width of the front and rear side Wall panels 10' and 17. If the glue flap is provided with longer projecting portions 96 and 97, which are spaced by a central notch 99. It will be noted in Figure 2 of the drawings that the notch 99 forms a the upper edge of the hand hole so as to provide a more comfortable grip in carrying the carrier and also in providing a lock between the handle forming portions of the carrier.

A partition forming panel 60 is foldably connected to the central partition forming panel 39 along the previously described fold line 43. A partition panel 61 is also connected to the partition panel 40 along the fold line 50. The partition panels 60 and 61 are equal in width to substantially one-third of the width of the side wall panels 10 and 17, or are substantially equal in width to the end wall panels 22, 23, 33, and 34.

The partition panels 69 and 61 are connected along aligned fold lines 62 and 63 to anchoring panels 64 and 65, respectively. These anchoring panels 64 and 65 are also of a width substantially equal to one-third of the width of the side wall panels 10 and 17. The anchoring panels are connected along fold lines 66 and '67 to partition panels 69 and 7 0, respectively. Partition panels 69 and 70 are also substantially equal in width to the end wall panels 22, 23, 33 and 34.

A partition panel 69 is foldably connected along a fold line 71 to a central partition forming panel unit 72. The partition panel 70 is similarly connected along a fold line 73 to a central partition forming panel unit 74. The units 72 and 74 are foldably connected along a central fold line 75.

The partition forming panel unit 72 is substantially identical to the panel 40 and includes a projecting tab 76 which projects beyond the fold line 71. This tab 76 is defined by a transverse out line 77 and an inclined cut line 79. The unit 72 also includes a handle forming central tongue 100 on the partition panel 60 Which extends into close proximity with the bottom of the carrier and extends between the adjacent portions of bottles contained within the carrier. Furthermore, as the projecting portion 94 isless than one-sixth of the width of the panel 10, the remaining portion of the central panel partition 39 extends between the adjoining central portions of the bottles contained within the carrier.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the glue flap 16 is of substantial area and extends upwardly on the side wall 17 a distance suflicient to provide a large area of contact. At the same time, the paperboard remains in the blank where it is necessary to extend between bottles in adjoining cells of the carrier. This is extremely important as it permits the paperboard blank to becut down in size very substantially without decreasing the area of the glue flap to a point Where it will not provide a firm anchor.

In the formation of the carrier, the blank of Figure 2 is folded in a gluing machine from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 and then to the position shown in Figure 4. Actually both of these folding operations usually take place simultaneously or substantially so. An area of adhesive 101 is applied along the edge of the blank which is seen to the left in Figure 2 of the drawings and the blank is folded along aligned fold lines 36 and 37 so that the end portion of the blank overlies the intermediate portion thereof. The blank is next folded into the position shown in Figure 4 by folding along the aligned fold lines 25 and 26. With this action the locking flaps 27 and 29 are adhered to the marginal edges of the central partition forming units 72 and 74 as shown in the drawings.

The blank is next folded from the position shown in Figure 4 through the position shown in Figure 5 and to the position shown in Figure 6. In accomplishing this action, glue or other adhesive is applied to the partition forming panels 40 and 72, as well as to the adjoining panel 27. The carrier is next folded along the aligned fold lines 75, 41 and 30 so that one part of the carrier body overlies the other and may be adhered thereto. As a part of the same folding operation, glue'is applied to the surface of the glue flap 16 and the bottom of the carrier is folded along the fold line 13 so that the glue flap 16 overlies the panel 17 of the carrier and is adhered thereto. When this second folding operation has been completed, the carrier is in the flat condition illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. j r v The end panels at each end of the carrier are in fiat side by side relation at the completion of these folding operations. The carton is set up by applying an inward force at opposite 'ends of the carrier so as to pivot the end walls of the carrier into parallel aligned relationship.

' During this operation, the end panels 22 and 23 are folded into the same plane and the panels '33 and 34 are similarly folded into the same plane. The panels at one end of the carrier are then substantially parallel to the panels at the other end of the carrier.

During this setting up operation, the handle forming portions of the two center partition forming panels overlap one another so that the hand holes 56 and 57 of one unit align with the hand holes 91 and 92 of the adjacent handle forming unit. The anchoring panels 64 and 65 are adhered to the outer side walls of the carton so as to provide rectangular cells in the carton when the end walls are in alignment. The end of the cut line 81 adjoining the fold line 71 extends diagonally so as to provide a downwardly extending notch adjacent the center partition forming panel. Similarly the end of the cut line 54 adjoining the fold line 50 is diagonally arranged as indicated at 103 to provide a downwardly and inwardly inclined notch adjacent the other side of the central partition panel forming structure. As the two handle forming elements of the carton overlap to a greater extent, the rounded portion 46 of the handle portion 41 rides over the partition panel 69 until it is engaged in the notch 49. The diagonally extending cut line forming the notch adjacent the central partition structure tends to hold the handle forming unit which is connected to one end of the carrier adjacent to the handle forming unit connected to the opposite end of the container. In a similar way the rounded portion 89 of the handle forming portion 86 of the unit 74 rides over the partition panel 61 until this partition panel is engaged in the notch 90. The diagonally extending out line extremity 103 tends to hold the handle forming unit closely adjacent the central partition portion of the opposite end of the carrier. Thus when the end walls are in alignment at opposite ends of the carton, the partition panels are at right angles to the side walls with the exception of the central partition panels which are parallel thereto. Similarly when thus arranged the carton is locked into set up position by engagement of certain of the partition panels with the notches 49 and 90.

Figure 8 of the drawings is taken sectionally throughone end of the carrier looking toward the angularly extending partition panels. It will be noted that both of these partitions extend closely adjacent to the bottom of the carrier. The cut lines 83 and 84 separating the partition panel 70 from the lower central partition projection 82 form an angular notch in the lower extremity of the partition panel 70 at a point adjacent to the central partition forming panels. The inclined line 84 extends through a center line between the side walls 17 and the central partition forming panels, or at least the lower end of this angular line extends up to the center of the cell as viewed in Figure 8 so that the bottles positioned on opposite sides of the partition wall 70 can not contact one another along their center lines, which would comprise the only place of contact between the cylindrical bottles. Similarly the cut lines 77 and 79 in the partition panel 69 form an angular notch which does not detract from the effectiveness of the partition panel as the lower end of the angular cut line 79 extends to, or slightly beyond, a vertical plane parallel to and centrally between the side wall and the central partition forming structure.

With reference to Figure 10 of the drawings, it will be noted that the panel 60 is provided with a downward projection 100 which is cut from the glue flap 16 and which extends between the. center portions of the bottles located on opposite sides of the partition wall 60 to provide a full depth par-tition. The cut lines 52 and 53 which separate the partition wall 61 from the projection 51 are also designed to extend through a center plane between the wall panel 17 and the center par-tition structure in such a way that the partition wall 61 will extend between the adjoining portions of bottles on opposite sides of this partition wall throughout almost the entire depth of the partition wall 61.

The manner in which the projections 82 and 76 cooperate with the projection 51 to form a lower partition member between bottles on opposite sides of the center partition forming structurein the center cells is disclosed. The partition walls 61, 69 and 70 are of proper height to extend near the upper end of the cylindrical lower portions of the bottles, but are low enough so that the projecting handle portions of the central partition members extend between the large diameter portions of the bottles in the center cells of the carrier. As the upper and lower portions of the cylindrical part of the bottles are spaced by the projecting handle portions and the projections 51, 76 and 82, the bottles can not directly contact one another.

It will be noted that in the formation of the cartons, two adjoining cartons may be formed in a single blank and glue flaps 16 attached to the bottom panels of each carrier dove-tail into an interior portion of the adjoining carrier. However, by cutting away portions of the partition structure which do not extend directly between adjacent portions of bottles, a glue flap of considerable area may be provided without affecting in any way the efiectiveness of the partition structure. At the same time, the adhered area is of suflicient size so that there is little or no danger of accidenally becoming disengaged.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my bottle carrier, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A bottle carrier including a pair of sections hingedly connected together, each section including an end wall panel, an outer wall panel, a second end wall panel, and five partition walls all foldably connected in consecutive relation along generally parallel fold lines, said end wall panels and partition panels being of substantially one-third the width of the outer wall panels, the intermediate panel of said five partition panels being secured in surface contact with said outer wall panels, the outermost of said five partition panels having integral inwardly directed projections on the planes of the partition panels each extending to a point near the center line of the said intermediate panel, the first of said five panels having an outward projection extending to a point near the center line of said intermediate panel, fold lines connecting the outermost partition panels and projections of one section with the corresponding parts of the other section, and a bottom member, said bottom member including a glue flap overlapping one of said outer wall panels and secured thereto, said glue flap having a notch in its free end, one of the second partition panels of said five having a projection on its lower edge intermediate its side edges forming a vertical extension thereof of similar shape to said notch.

2. A cellular carton blank including two sections, each section including a wall panel, a pair of end wall panels hingedly connected along opposite edges thereof, a glue flap hingedly connected to one of said end wall panels, four partition wall panels of substantially equal width hingedly connected together and to the other of said end wall panels, and a fifth partition panel folda-bly connected 7 to the fourth partition panel of the series, the first and fifth partition panels having lateral extensions extending toward one another at their upper edges, said lateral extensions being separated from the second, third, and fourth partition panels by transverse cut lines, said sections being connected together by fold lines between the first and fifth partition panels and the lateral extensions thereon, the line of fold extending along the upper edges of the panels and extensions, and saidsections also being connected along a second fold line aligned with the first mentioned fold line and extending between said glue flaps, and a bottom section hingedly connected along the lower edge of one of said wall panels, said bottom section including a glue flap at its free end, the glue flap being notched intermediate its ends, the second partition panel of one of said sections having a central projection thereupon forming a vertical extension thereof of substantially the same size and shape as said notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,532,446 Hall Dec. 5, 1950 2,537,452 Forrer- Jan. 9, 1951 2,537,615 Arneson Jan. 9, 1951 2,551,559 Gilbert May 1, 1951 2,584,658 Arneson Feb. 5, 1952 2,594,377 Arneson Apr. 29, 1952 2,675,158 Ringler Apr. 13, 1954 

